SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:43
Pero sabed esto, que si el padre de la familia supiese a cul hora el ladrn había de venir, velaría, y no dejaría minar su casa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:43
Verse 43. If the good man of the house had known] "As a master of a family who expected a thief at any time of the night, would take care to be awake, and ready to protect his house; so do ye, who know that the Son of man will come. Though the day and hour be uncertain, continue always in a state of watchfulness, that he may not come upon you unawares." WAKEFIELD.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 43. But know this , etc.] Or you do know this: this may be illustrated by supposing a case well known to men, and in which common prudence would direct a man how to behave: that if the good man of the house , or householder, or master of the family, had known in what watch the thief would come ; whether at the first, second, third, or fourth watch; for the night was divided into four watches; had he any previous notice given by any of the associates of the thief, or by those that had overheard, or by any means had got intelligence of his design and measures, and the time of his pursuing them, he would have watched ; in every watch either in person, or by employing others, or both: and would not have suffered his house to be broken up : or dug through; (see Job 24:16) concerning which, there is a law in ( Exodus 22:2) and is explained by the Jewish canonists thus: He that comes in by digging, whether by day or by night, there is no blood for him (i.e. to be shed for him, if he is killed); but if the master of the house, or any other man kill him, they are free; and every man has power to kill him, whether on a weekday, or on a sabbath day; and with whatsoever death he can put him to, as it is said, there is no blood for him, ( Exodus 22:2). And one that comes in, trtjmb , by digging, or a thief that is found in the midst of a mans roof, or in his court, or within his hedge, whether in the day or in the night, (may be killed;) and wherefore is it called digging? because it is the way of most thieves to come in by digging in the night f1424 . Wherefore no doubt since the master of the house had such a law on his side, he would never suffer, if possible, his house to be entered by digging, when he had, especially, any previous notice of it. Now the application of this case, or parabolical way of speaking, is to the coming of Christ, and the watchfulness of every good man who has notice of it, that he may not be surprised with it, but be in a readiness to receive him. The coming of the son of man, is here represented by the coming of the thief in the night: but when he is compared to a thief, this is not to be understood in a bad sense, in which Satan is called one, who comes to kill and to destroy the souls of men; and likewise heretics and false teachers, and everyone that climbs up, and gets into the church of God in a wrong way; but this only respects the manner of Christs coming, which is like that of a thief, secretly, suddenly, and at unawares. The good man of the house, or householder, is every Christian, or believer in Christ, who has a house to look after, his own soul, the spiritual affairs and everlasting salvation of it, things of moment and concern unto him: and as the Christians, before the destruction of Jerusalem, had notices of Christs coming in that way, by our Lords predictions, by the hints the apostles gave, to refresh their memories with them, and by the signs of the times and voices that were heard; so the saints have of Christs coming to judgment: wherefore as it became the one, so it does the other, to watch, to be upon their guard, to be in a readiness, to have their loins girt about, and their lights burning, and they like men that wait for their Lord; that so when he comes, their houses may not be broken up, may not be surprised, and the several powers and faculties of their souls may not be thrown into disorder and confusion; wherefore it follows, Ver. 44. Therefore be ye also ready , etc.] Or prepared for the coming of the son of man; which as it is said to be like a thief in the night, expresses the suddenness of it, may excite to watchfulness and readiness; which readiness is to be understood, not of a readiness to do the will and work of God, though this is absolutely necessary; as to watch and pray, to hear the word preached, to confess Christ, and give a reason of the hope that is in us, to communicate to the support of the cause and interest of Christ, and to suffer for his sake; but of a preparedness to meet the Lord in the way of his judgments, when desolating judgments are coming on the earth, such as these in Jerusalem; by faith and trust in the power, providence, and care of God; by humiliation before him, and resignation to his will: and if this can be applied to a readiness for a future state after death; for the second coming of Christ, and last judgment; this lies not in a dependence on the absolute mercy of God; nor in an external humiliation for sin; nor in an abstinence from grosser sins, or in mere negative holiness; nor in any outward, legal, civil, and moral righteousness; nor in a submission to Gospel ordinances; nor in a mere profession of religion; but in being in Christ, having on his righteousness, and being washed in his blood; and also in regeneration and sanctification, in having true knowledge of Christ, and faith in him; for all which it becomes men to be concerned, as also all believers to be actually, as well as habitually ready; being in the lively exercise of grace, and cheerful discharge of duty, though without trusting to either. And such a readiness in either branch of it, is not of themselves, but lies in the grace of God, which gives a meetness for glory; and in the righteousness of Christ, the fine linen, clean and white, which being granted by him, his people are made ready for him: and as for their faith, and the exercise of it, and their constant performance of duty, these are not from the strength of nature and the power of freewill, but from the Spirit of God and his grace; who makes ready a people prepared for the Lord, and all according to the ancient settlements of grace, in which provision is made for the vessels of mercy, afore prepared for glory: though there should be a studious concern in men for such readiness, for nothing is more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than when it will be; and after death, no readiness can be had, but he that is then righteous, shall be righteous still, and he that is filthy, shall be filthy still, and a deathbed is by no means to be trusted to; and though a person may not be snatched away suddenly, but may have space given him to repent, yet if grace is not given him, to repent and believe in Christ, he never will; the grave is ready for men, and in a little time all will be brought to this house, appointed for all living, where there is no wisdom, knowledge, and device; and therefore whatever we are directed to do, should be now done, with all that might, and strength, and grace, that is given us; to which may be added, that after death comes judgment; the day is fixed, the judge is appointed, and all must stand before his judgment seat; and nothing is more sure than that Christ will come a second time, to judge both quick and dead; and happy will those be that are ready; they will be received by Christ into everlasting habitations, and be for ever with him: and miserable will those be, who will not be ready, who will not have the oil of grace in their hearts with their lamps, nor the wedding garment on them; they will be shut out, and bid to depart into everlasting burnings: how fit and proper is such an advice and exhortation as this, be ye also ready. A readiness the Jews report Bath Kol, or the voice from heaven, gave out concerning the Israelites. Bath Kol (say they) went out, and said to them, abh lw[h yyjl ynmwzm klwk , ye are all of you ready for the life of the world to come.
And elsewhere it is said of Bath Kol, that it went forth and affirmed of some particular Rabbins, that they were ready for eternal life; as of Ketiah bar Shalom, R. Eleazar ben Durdia, and R. Chanina f1426 : for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh : this is true of his coming in power to destroy Jerusalem, and of his second coming to judgment. The Jews say much the same of the coming of the Messiah, whom they expect: there are three things, they say f1427 , which come, t[dh jsyhb , without knowledge, or unthought of, at an unawares; and they are these, the Messiah, anything that is found, and a scorpion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 42-51 - To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind whic we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord' coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servan of Christ, be an unbeliever, covetous, ambitious, or a lover of pleasure, he will be cut off. Those who choose the world for their portion in this life, will have hell for their portion in the othe life. May our Lord, when he cometh, pronounce us blessed, and presen us to the Father, washed in his blood, purified by his Spirit, and fi to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
εκεινο 1565 D-ASN δε 1161 CONJ γινωσκετε 1097 5719 V-PAI-2P 1097 5720 V-PAM-2P οτι 3754 CONJ ει 1487 COND ηδει 1492 5715 V-LAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM οικοδεσποτης 3617 N-NSM ποια 4169 I-DSF φυλακη 5438 N-DSF ο 3588 T-NSM κλεπτης 2812 N-NSM ερχεται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3S εγρηγορησεν 1127 5656 V-AAI-3S αν 302 PRT και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N αν 302 PRT ειασεν 1439 5656 V-AAI-3S διορυγηναι 1358 5650 V-2APN την 3588 T-ASF οικιαν 3614 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
43. Would come (ercetai). Rev., was coming. But the present is graphically thrown in as in vv. 40, xli. is coming or cometh.Broken up (diorughnai). Rev., broken through. See on Matt. vi. 19. Wyc., undermined.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
24:43 {In what watch} (poiai phulaki). As in #14:25 (four watches of the night). {Broken through} (diorucqenai). Digged through the tile roof or under the floor (dirt in the poorer houses).
